Welcome to my blog, Green Tea Club !I'll show you all the beauties and goodies in Shizuoka through this blog.If you have any inquiry, please feel free to post your messages on it. Hope to see you around in Shizuoka !

10/07/2014 [Tue]

"nedoco project", Guest-house Service for visitors from abroad [Shizuoka]

"Daidogei World Cup" held in Shizuoka City is one of the largest performance festivals in Asia and today's information is about the guest houses where you can stay overnight at a low cost.

As for Daidogei World CupHeld since 1992 in early Nov every year and getting more progressed to be one of the largest street performer's festival. More than 90 groups of artists join the fes and it now calls in more than 1.5 millions of visitors across Japan and from overseas to watch their performances.Not too much to say, it is a holly sanctuary for performers to join the Fes !"Daidogei" by the way, literally means body expression arts normally performed on the street or in the park or small theatre.

As for Nedoco ProjectIt is a project of Homestay in temples or old houses. Volunteer staff living in Shizuoka welcome you ! Not to mention enjoying Daidogei fes, you can also have fun in meditation experience, Sake party, etc.Booking starts from Oct 1.

01/07/2013 [Mon]

Koyama Castle [Yoshida]

I visited Koyama Castle last weekend with my friend living nearby. It stands in Yoshida city and has a profound history among Takeda, Imagawa, and Tokugawa clans. Originally, around 500 years ago, it belonged to Imagawa but Takeda attacked the base away from Imagawa and built the castle to dispatch soldiers to guard the defense line.I’m kind of history lover and was very impressed when I first saw the gallant appearance on the small hill. Imagine soldiers aiming at you from the top of the castle ? Can you still stay brave enough to proceed toward ?

I parked my car in the parking lot at the foot of the hill. It’s called “ Nomanji-yama Park”. Nomanji is a temple built in 1262 and as the name implies, I saw a large temple soon after I began to walk. Fine.

Walking up the stairs behind the temple, I finally reached the castle. It looked too good to be true !

It was overwhelming to me but I couldn’t resist walking up. Beauty and magnificence behind tragedy, this is the very word for it. Beside the castle was a threefold moat with a sad and odd story. It was when Takeda was attacked by Tokugawa ( eventually Tokugawa became a ruler of Japan to open Edo Era ), girls and women jumped into the trench to kill themselves and now said there live leeches with red lips like women look. Do you believe that ? Why leeches anyway ? Legend is always born behind deep mysteries.

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

01/04/2013 [Fri]

Happy New Year !♪ [Shizuoka]

It’s always nice to start a brandnew year by doing Hatsumode, the first visit and prayer at a temple or shrine. In my case, I walked 40 minutes to Shizuoka Sengen Shrine at midnight on New Year’s Eve. I could hear on my way the silence of the night and the sound of Buddhism Bells that is said to remove 108 worldly desires human beings possess. Maybe I am less greedy this year, I believe.

Thousands of people were already there making quiet noises and humongous wishes.

Miko shrine maidens were on the stage to pray and purify Hamaya arrow talisman. See what they carry on the hands ?

Hundreds of people were flocking together at the main shrine hall in front of the stage to make wishes and prayers for the coming new year. I stood behind the last lady. One step forward and another. Finally, I was in front of the god. Now, what would I pray ? Make me fun, that’s quite good enough for me.

On my way home, I found a stunning fact. 2013 of my age falls on climacteric year which shall hold up consecutive 3 years. Are you serious ? I talked to the god. A Miko smiled. I thought that was the reply from the god.

New Year’s Day is the key of the year. Anyway, I’ll be more active and aggressive about anything that may appear ahead of me.＾＾ｖ

Next week will be held Dondo Yaki festival at some local shrine or temple. Dondo Yaki is to pile and burn ornaments of New Year’s Day and to get blessed by staying around the fire. Image of last year available from here ! Enjoy Japan’s Tradition in January ! ﾟ.+:｡ヾ(*｀∀´*)ゞ

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾

12/26/2012 [Wed]

Shiogo Suspension Bridge [Kawanehoncho]

Last weekend, I went for a drive wanting power of great nature. Wondering if I should proceed for mountains or the ocean, I finally concluded that spirits of nature that can recover from exhaustion of the year shall be in mountains ! Now, way to Senzu, 2 hours away from my city ！

I stopped by Shiogo’s 220M long and 11M high Suspension Bridge on my way that crossed over houses, roadway, railway, and Oi river. Actually, it was a 2nd challenge for me.

The first time was just so awful that I did a 180 on the middle of the bridge. And this time……, in the event, worse than the first stab because some of passers-by caused some sort of quake and pound, which aroused scariness from deep bottom of my mind and when a young couple dashed forward on the bridge, I froze for a moment and stepped back, turned around and headed back where I started. I saw even a child enjoyed walking on it. Why not for me ? Maybe next year……

12/18/2012 [Tue]

Strawberry farms in Shizuoka ♪ [Information]

The strawberry picking season has just come ! It’s generally said that there are more than 100 species of strawberries in Japan and here we have “Akihime” and “Beni-hoppe ( blushing cheek )" branded strawberries in Shizuoka. Well balanced sweetness and fresh sourness never stop attracting people throughout Japan and you can try them in an as-much-as-you-can-eat style at the farm below. Most of them starts from mid-Dec or early-Jan and ends on the day when Golden week, our special long holidays in May ends. I would recommend to visit it sooner because strawberries becomes smaller and smaller and sometimes sourness gets the better of sweetness ( though just my impression ) which always makes my mouth water, I mean, caused by sourness.Now, here are strawberry farms in Shizuoka. If you are visiting one of them and don’t know how to reach, please feel free to contact us from here.

無題

Cities

Name of farms

from

until

Higashi-izu Town

Ichigo Land Nakanishi

mid-Dec

early-May

Marutetsu-en Farm

mid-Dec

early-May

Strawberry Farm Ohta

mid-Dec

early-May

Hinokuchi-en Farm

mid-Dec

early-May

Strawberry Kanasashi Farm

mid-Dec

early-May

Izunokuni City

Nirayama Strawberry Picking Center

Jan 2

May 6

Ema Strawberry Picking Center

Nov 15

May 6

Izu-nagaoka Strawberry Picking Center

Jan 2

May 6

Fujieda City

Japan Berry

late-Dec

mid-Jun

Shizuoka City

Shizuoka.Kuno Strawberry Picking Association

Jan 1

early May

Maruzo Strawberry Picking Association

early Jan

early May

Kakegawa City

Akazukin-chan no Omoshiro Noen Farm

Nov 15

late May

Sansan Tourists' Farm

early-Dec

late May

Kosai City

Okurado Tourists' Farm

Jan

May

Hamamatsu City

Hiramatsu Kanko Agurisu Hamanako

mid-Dec

mid May

Mt.Nemoto Tourists' Farm（Nagara-en）

Jan 1

Apr 10

Mt.Nemoto Tourists' Farm（Kurata-en）

Jan 1

Apr 10

Kashima Harvest

late Jan

mid-May

Shimano Farm

mid-Dec

late May

“Shizuoka Guide” is our official English blog website for events & sightseeing. Always with you ! ＾＾